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Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

This letter is in response to John Zeger’s letter from Thursday, March 1 (Cost of Inaction on Affordable Housing).

First of all it is unfair to blame the developers working in this town for the lack of affordable housing.  I personally know a few developers and they are family people committed to their community and to providing quality housing for the purchasing public.  It is unrealistic to expect developers to provide a lot and a house for $150,000 considering the high cost of land, DCC and the cost of building materials and labour.  This would lead to higher costs for every other home not designated affordable housing in order to offset the cost of providing homes at below market value.  In effect, the home owners in such a neighborhood would be subsidizing the designated affordable housing thus placing most of the burden on tax paying home buyers.  It is a sad fact that not everyone who lives in Kelowna will be able to afford to buy a home in this city.  Even a single home on a small lot well below market value at $150,000 will be out of reach for many low income working people.  The limited number of such units would also not be nearly enough to address the lack of affordable housing in this Kelowna.

A little research shows there are other models of affordable housing which are much more effective at providing up to date quality housing in a form which does not ghettoize or stigmatize low income families or individuals.  Co-operative housing is one example where, in some models, higher income earners own or lease and reside in units along side low income earners.  This is only one example of many types of housing cooperatives which are in use in cities and towns the world over.  Housing such as this can be dispersed around the city and will provide many more units than single family dwellings at very little cost to the tax payers.

City council does need move forward quickly on affordable housing issues but putting the burden on the tax payers is not the answer.  Federal and provincial governments should be actively lobbied for funds to plan and build affordable housing now.

Graeme James

2360 Scenic Road

Kelowna, BC   V1V 2C8

762-2861

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Kelowna Capital News

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

More than one development needed

First of all I would like to publicly thank City of Kelowna staff for meeting with me, discussing my concerns and answering some of my questions regarding the downtown revitalization.  I still have concerns about selling City owned land close to the lake as I believe this should be retained by the City for present and future generations to enjoy.  But we have an opportunity to address a great many of the problems associated with the downtown area and create beautiful portal into Kelowna where people feel safe anytime of the day or night and the lake is visible and accessible to everyone.

But downtown Kelowna is not the answer to all of our City’s woes.  At a recent city council meeting I heard some city councillors asking for low cost housing, day care and seniors’ centers to be located in the downtown core.  Why would city council put low cost housing in some of the most expensive real estate in the city?  Why would they put day care downtown when most families with young children live in suburban areas outside of the downtown core?  Every added amenity the councillors ask for in a development costs money and reduces the chance that a development will a) actually take place and b) be successful.  Case in point is the old K.S.S. site which still sits vacant and forlorn.  A single development cannot be the answer to all of the City’s problems.  While mixed use development can be successful and beneficial to the City one cannot include a grocery list of amenities that turns it into a hot potato for developers. 

City of Kelowna downtown revitalization will be successful when there is a sizeable population of people living, working and spending their leisure time downtown.  Events and amenities which draw people in from outside the downtown will accentuate the revitalization and paramount among the amenities should be Lake Okanagan and  the parks, beaches, walkways and unique shops which draw people, young and old to the downtown area.  Studies show that people who live and/or work in moderately sized buildings are more likely to walk, ride a bike or take public transit.  Higher density downtown does mean higher buildings but that also translates to more people living in the downtown core and people are the future of downtown Kelowna.

Graeme James

2360 Scenic Road

Kelowna, BC

V1V 2C8

762-2861

_________________________________________________________________

 

The Daily Courier

Thursday, February 7, 2008

 

City needs visionaries,

not whiners, complainers

This is in response to recent letters from John Zeger which have appeared in both newspapers.  It must be easy sitting back and criticizing all the time, Mr. Zeger.  What this city really needs is people who are willing to make decisions, not just complain. Mr. Zeger’s main focus is to shut down growth in our city.  Forget about the thousands of people who directly or indirectly make their living from Kelowna’s economic growth.  People move here because it’s a great place to live and most people living here came from somewhere else.  My wife, who was born here, still calls me a newbie and I’ve lived here for thirty years.  How long have you been here Mr. Zeger?  Just long enough to no longer be considered a new resident thereby exempting you from bearing the cost of creating more affordable housing?  You’re very eager to shut and lock the gate against others who wish to move here just as you did not so long ago.  Who will change the oil in your car, bag your groceries, sell you a new pair of shoes or fix your plumbing if the city starts penalizing new residents and people do stop moving here?  Kelowna needs to attract families with young children to keep our city vibrant and to fill the many employment openings that are left wanting at the moment. 

Developers should not be made to pay directly for the affordable housing crisis that we have allowed to happen.  Providing one or two units that low income families cannot afford anyway will do nothing to alleviate the problem.  Developers should have to provide capital if they want greater density and that money should then be used to provide affordable housing where people can pay no more than 30% of their income on housing so they can get ahead.  There are many successful models of affordable housing in place in other cities; more secondary suites are not the only answer. We can provide a great deal more units for rent than for sale.  Unfortunately not everyone in Kelowna will own their own home but clean, reasonably priced rental housing is not impossible to achieve if there is a political will to do so.

Graeme James

2360 Scenic Road

Kelowna, BC

V1V 2C8

762-2861

gvg@shaw.ca

______________________________________________________________________

This is in reference to recent articles concerning the amalgamation of the Westside with the City of Kelowna.  According to the most recent article in your newspaper it seems that City of Kelowna staff is supporting, in principle, the aforementioned amalgamation.  However until all the facts have been established it would be extremely premature to tell the province that we agree, even on principle, to amalgamation.  It is my opinion that this is a decision that will have far reaching consequences on the tax payer of Kelowna.  I find it very hard to believe that our taxes will go down.  I have worked on the Westside and although it is a beautiful area their services and amenities are somewhat limited in comparison to those of Kelowna. One can assume that shortly after amalgamation, should it happen, that the new Westside residents of Kelowna would start campaigning for road upgrades, curbs, gutters, sidewalks and street lights in currently under serviced areas.

Okanagan Lake is a natural boundary between Kelowna and the Westside.  Even with the new bridge many services will have to be duplicated, i.e. works yards, equipment and office space as it will not be practical to have people and equipment moving back and forth across the bridge especially during the height of summer traffic.

This is a big decision for Kelowna and one that should not be made until the residents of Kelowna have access to all the facts regarding the cost of an amalgamation.  This is definitely not a reverse referendum question.  Please respect the intelligence of the taxpayers of Kelowna and allow us to have a say in this decision by way of a full fledged referendum.

Graeme James

2360 Scenic Road

Kelowna, BC   V1V 2C8

762-2861